Rolling Ball Chase on the Floor

A soft, lightweight ball — a fabric ball or small rubber ball works great

Clear a stretch of floor space so your baby has room to move. A hallway works surprisingly well.

Set your baby on their tummy or in a sitting position at one end of the space. Sit a few feet away facing them.

Roll the ball gently toward your baby. Aim for it to stop right within arm's reach. Say "Here comes the ball!" as you roll it.

Watch your baby's eyes follow the ball — that's visual tracking at work. Encourage them to reach for it.

When your baby grabs the ball, celebrate! Clap and say "You got it!" Then gently take it back and roll again.

Now try rolling the ball just slightly past your baby, off to one side. This encourages them to turn, pivot, or reach across their body.

For babies who are starting to crawl (typically 7-10 months), roll the ball a little farther away so they have to scoot or crawl to reach it. The ball becomes the motivation to move.

Let your baby explore the ball between rolls — squeezing, mouthing, and passing it between hands are all valuable play.

A ball with a textured surface gives your baby more grip and more sensory input when they finally grab it.

Don't worry if your baby doesn't chase the ball right away. Younger babies will track it with their eyes and reach for it, which is the perfect starting point.

Try rolling the ball toward your baby from different angles — left, right, and straight on. Each angle challenges a slightly different set of muscles.

If you have a slightly bumpy ball (like a knobby sensory ball), it rolls more slowly and unpredictably, which makes it easier to catch and more interesting to watch.

This is one of those rare activities that grows with your baby. A 4-month-old will track and reach. A 10-month-old will crawl after it at full speed.